tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post7059190379362431580..comments2024-03-28T10:50:33.234-07:00Comments on Nationals Baseball: Offseason Position Discussion : CatcherHarperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-83996449352456467112016-10-26T07:11:06.996-07:002016-10-26T07:11:06.996-07:00Dazo Penguin: I'm not the one clamoring for Lu...Dazo Penguin: I'm not the one clamoring for Lucroy. I was just pointing out that he was a FA. <br /><br />IMHO Rizzo would do just as well going with Lobaton, Severino, and Kieboom and spending that free agent money on a dependable piece of heavy lumber to play elsewhere (1st base, OF).Sammy Kenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17286255593094532554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-7891789859271741492016-10-25T14:04:36.876-07:002016-10-25T14:04:36.876-07:00Wouldn't another out-of-the-box idea be your i...Wouldn't another out-of-the-box idea be your idea from last year: buy low on Derek Norris and hope that 2016 was the outlier? He's still only 27 and prior to last year put up 3 very consistent seasons of 2.2-2.6 WAR, about what we should reasonably have expected from 2017 Ramos without the injury, assuming that he too would see some regression from a career year. Pair Norris and Lobaton, let Severino start at Syracuse, and see where you are at in July. If he goes back to the ~2.5 WAR player he was before, you're a genius, if it doesn't, you see where Severino is at or pickup a Suzuki type at the deadline. NatsGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-50611737813597227862016-10-25T11:48:26.793-07:002016-10-25T11:48:26.793-07:00I say sign Ramos to a two year deal. Hope he come...I say sign Ramos to a two year deal. Hope he comes back by June or July and you have one "trade deadline deal" once he's back. That lets Severino play more in the first half and see if he is the catcher of the future. He seems to think he is a star. However, everything I have read (multiple times on ESPN, SI) says the Nats are going with Wieters. I have thought that since about mid-season. Sort of thing where Boras says fine you can sign Strasburg, but you are going to have pick up Wieters this offseason too. He's a switch hitter that supposedly can still throw and calls a good game. I don't like the fact that Severino pretty much didn't do any of the game calling in the playoffs. I know he's a rookie, but Maddox calling every pitch from the dugout all of next year isn't my idea of fun.Jaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-57592589688815385182016-10-25T11:30:25.665-07:002016-10-25T11:30:25.665-07:00Sammy--There's no way Texas doesn't pick u...Sammy--There's no way Texas doesn't pick up Lucroy's club option, unless they extend him instead. Five million for one of the top catchers in baseball? When Sandy Leon was second in the AL in fWAR among catchers (okay, Evan Gattis was technically second, but there's a lot of DH added to Gattis's batting numbers)?<br /><br />Honestly, catching is pretty much a garbage position leaguewise. Two four-win players (Lucroy, Posey), and three three-win players (Realmuto, Sanchez, Ramos) per fWAR league-wise. Severino managed to actually put up more WAR in his tiny sample size than possible-FA-stopgap Kurt Suzuki did all year.<br /><br />(The Tigers had two separate catchers, McCann and Salty, who had a lower wRC+ than Danny Espinosa. Severino and Lobaton could be merely bad and be better than that.)<br /><br />(Weird thing looking at the fWAR charts; if Turner had played a full season at the same pace, he'd have been the best non-Trout CF in all of baseball.)DezoPenguinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-53962834611515679622016-10-25T07:52:11.015-07:002016-10-25T07:52:11.015-07:00No need to trade for either Suzuki, Castro, or Luc...No need to trade for either Suzuki, Castro, or Lucroy if Rizzo wants one of them. They are free agents, and that's the rack where Rizzo does 90% of his shopping for starters. Lucroy has a $5.25MM club option with a $25K buyout.<br /><br />Here's the current list of available free agent catchers:<br /><br />Alex Avila (30)<br />Drew Butera (34)<br />Jason Castro (30)<br />Hank Conger (29)<br />A.J. Ellis (36)<br />Ryan Hanigan (36) — $3.75MM club option with an $800K buyout<br />Nick Hundley (33)<br />Chris Iannetta (34) — $4.25MM club option<br />Jonathan Lucroy (31) — $5.25MM club option with a $25K buyout<br />Jeff Mathis (34)<br />Dioner Navarro (33)<br />A.J. Pierzynski (40)<br />Wilson Ramos (29)<br />Carlos Ruiz (38) — $4.5MM club option with a $500K buyout<br />Jarrod Saltalamacchia (32)<br />Geovany Soto (34)<br />Kurt Suzuki (33)<br />Matt Wieters (31)Sammy Kenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17286255593094532554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-20080730736131840732016-10-25T05:49:21.568-07:002016-10-25T05:49:21.568-07:00I'm surprised nobody mentioned Brian McCann as...I'm surprised nobody mentioned Brian McCann as a potential trade option. He'd be a solid stopgap if the Yankees eat some money, and as long as the price in prospects isn't out of this world, he'd provide a decent bat while handling the pitching staff very well. Not the most exciting idea, but they can't fully replace Ramos' production at catcher, he was excellent last year.Ryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-47051979624484470792016-10-24T19:28:16.360-07:002016-10-24T19:28:16.360-07:00I see all upside to getting Kurt Suzuki back. Sinc...I see all upside to getting Kurt Suzuki back. Since it's pretty certain Gio is retained, Suzuki knows him well and might settle him down and make it all worth it. Besides he would be a good mentor to Severino. <br /><br />Froggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05425616684415704428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-68330721781652216192016-10-24T16:45:17.368-07:002016-10-24T16:45:17.368-07:00Summer? Are you in Australia? 😂Summer? Are you in Australia? 😂Dr Trea (formerly #werthquake) https://www.blogger.com/profile/07450504942328972974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-54175099829945516402016-10-24T16:26:59.628-07:002016-10-24T16:26:59.628-07:00If they spend big it should probably be to extend ...If they spend big it should probably be to extend a guy like Rendon. Can't imagine Harper's price has come down.blovy8https://www.blogger.com/profile/06888192019412533415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-46466050331910040782016-10-24T15:11:16.969-07:002016-10-24T15:11:16.969-07:00The Nationals will spend big this summer. I'm ...The Nationals will spend big this summer. I'm fairly certain of this because a) they swung (and missed) big on Zobrist and Heyward so the Lerners are clearly letting Rizzo finally spend some big money and b) the Nats have more question marks this offseason than any other one before. Because of this, I think Rizzo uses the FA market to get a catcher. I want them to get Lucroy but, like Harper says, I don't think Lucroy leaves Texas. At the very least, I expect Rizzo to give him a solid offer and make him think about it. In the end, I think Rizzo likes Wieters because he's another Boras client and he provides a solid, if not stable, bat with him despite some injury history. That's basically describing Ramos in a nutshell. A trade could certainly happen, since this is how Rizzo has operated before, but I think that's only because the Lerners weren't opening up the bank for him before. I think they will now and you'll see upgrades at most question mark positions through a few trades and some FA signings.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09245553643303530857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-44827116593182426402016-10-24T15:03:20.545-07:002016-10-24T15:03:20.545-07:00@josh Danny on the roster isn't the issue.. I ...@josh Danny on the roster isn't the issue.. I want him on the roster... Just not as a starter. <br />Dr Trea (formerly #werthquake) https://www.blogger.com/profile/07450504942328972974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-68785555843864444782016-10-24T14:28:16.766-07:002016-10-24T14:28:16.766-07:00@Mythra I'm with Zimm11. Rizzo's job is to...@Mythra I'm with Zimm11. Rizzo's job is to shuffle/replace the following fWAR: Danny 1.7, Trea 3.3, Wilson 3.5. 8.5 WAR. (let's ignore the serious drag of CF for the first half)<br /><br />Give Trea more games and maybe a slight dropoff from this year. Call it 5 WAR from short. Now, assume that Rizzo gets an above average but not wonderful outfielder. 3ish. That leaves only .5 WAR for a rookie catcher who has never hit particularly well. Very doable. What if Rizzo keeps Danny because he can't come up with a good outfielder at a good price? Then Trea's 5 WAR come at CF, Danny's 2ish at SS, and now C has to provide 2ish. That's a tall order.<br /><br />The catcher discussion gets a lot less stressful and depressing if Rizzo finds an upgrade for Danny's bat to play CF. Until Rizzo has a good center fielder on the books, we have to assume Danny is still on the roster and catcher is a hole.Josh Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00524273388243642450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-71716469927043241722016-10-24T14:27:16.960-07:002016-10-24T14:27:16.960-07:00Not sure why trading for Castillo is viewed as meh...Not sure why trading for Castillo is viewed as meh. His numbers the last three seasons are just fine for a catcher you don't pay a lot:<br /><br />2014 13HR/46RBI .237/.296/.389<br />2015 19/57 .243/.306/493<br />2016 14/68 .26/.322/.423<br /><br />And: averaged 111 games last three seasons. <br /><br />Personally, I'd give Severino 40-50 games in a platoon with Castillo, but if you prefer Lobaton, okay. I don't expect C to be a big offensive spot, and in that context, Castillo's numbers hold up fine, IMHO.<br /><br />ClassOf87noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-12711196047941698192016-10-24T13:56:45.479-07:002016-10-24T13:56:45.479-07:00The Nats team batted .236 in the 8th hole and hit ...The Nats team batted .236 in the 8th hole and hit 25 HRs... while playing above average defense... that's good for 1.7 WAR. <br /><br />Severino isn't replacing the 8th hitter... he's replacing the (for parts of the season) 5th hitter who was good for 3.5 WAR. <br /><br />Can't have 7 be Severino and 8 be Espinosa next season. That'd be a killer. Especially if Zim doesn't improve.<br /><br /> Zimmerman11https://www.blogger.com/profile/14524103974207323535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-59235869727484780282016-10-24T13:21:11.561-07:002016-10-24T13:21:11.561-07:00The Nats as a team battd .236 in the 8th hole. Tha...The Nats as a team battd .236 in the 8th hole. That's horrid. And if Severino hits .250, he's already improved that slot in the order. Yes, you lose Danny running into 20 HRs a year, but the assumption I'm making is Danny played his last game in a Nats uniform this year, barring some miracle or preferential treatment by Rizzo. <br /><br />I'm on the Severino train. If he's not cutting it, look for something at the deadline or have a plan B signed with Suzuki or someone else.<br /><br />Mythrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12640334476376047192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-34904955306457064192016-10-24T12:57:30.908-07:002016-10-24T12:57:30.908-07:00We got best case scenario with Ramos this season (...We got best case scenario with Ramos this season (and that INCLUDES him tearing up his knee and missing the postseason). I'll pass on multiple years to the Buffalo, starting with his age 30 season, even if shouting WILLLLLLSOOOOONNNNNNNN was one of my favorite parts of Nats games.<br /><br />Ramos played more games this season than he ever had before ...<br /><br />2012 - 25 <br />2013 - 78<br />2014 - 88<br />2015 - 128<br /><br />That ain't getting better the next three years.<br />Zimmerman11https://www.blogger.com/profile/14524103974207323535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-75311718545965791742016-10-24T12:19:13.332-07:002016-10-24T12:19:13.332-07:00Ole PBN - Leon's first 40 games or so were ama...Ole PBN - Leon's first 40 games or so were amazing. like .390 5 HR, 12 2B, 2 3B. But his last 30 or so were pretty bad .204 4 2B<br /><br />I doubt they are going to hand anything over just yet for what amounts to a good month and a half. Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-23950835148908019872016-10-24T12:15:26.750-07:002016-10-24T12:15:26.750-07:00SM - catcher is the only major problem that would ...SM - catcher is the only major problem that would be super hard to solve. You can get an OF (either CF or corner and shift Bryce) if you think Danny needs to be replaced. You can find a first baseman that's average if you want to replace Zimm. There are options if you don't like the back of the rotation or if Strasburg for some reason doesn't make it back. <br /><br />Catcher is hard. Cleveland has a terrible situation since Gomes got hurt and can't get right. Substitute Mets and d'Arnaud into last sentence. Baltimore wasn't great with Wieters. Toronto is in a tough spot if Martin can't rebound. Tigers' guy is defense first, defense only. Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-91240887478739845852016-10-24T12:11:53.503-07:002016-10-24T12:11:53.503-07:00What about Christian Vazquez from Boston? Excellen...What about Christian Vazquez from Boston? Excellent defensively with a hand-cannon. Not much of a hitter, but from what I hear, does a great job of handling a pitching staff. With the emergence of Sandy Leon, whom I have to think is the favorite for the job over there, do what do you think it would take for the Nats to bring Vazquez over here and is it a good idea?Ole PBNnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-86856446250132758882016-10-24T12:04:00.883-07:002016-10-24T12:04:00.883-07:00I'm on board the #HARPERTOCATCHER train. If i...I'm on board the #HARPERTOCATCHER train. If it's as much of a shoe in he leaves/goes to the Yankees then might as well maximize his value. Plus I'm sure he would love it. He doesn't seem to like the corner outfield that much. Dr Trea (formerly #werthquake) https://www.blogger.com/profile/07450504942328972974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-56756969287098966112016-10-24T11:47:42.627-07:002016-10-24T11:47:42.627-07:00Most commenters have been ignoring the QO idea whe...Most commenters have been ignoring the QO idea when it's brought up. A QO is looking to be what, $17-18 million? Wilson won't play until June at the earliest. Likely will not be strong or capable until a few months after that. Possibly will not be himself at any point during the 2017 season. Letting him sign a $17 million contract to rehab his knee is not explicitly a horrible idea in a vacuum, because maybe he's finally all better and rested and hitting for power and average in September and October, carrying the team to a championship!<br /><br />However, the Nats aren't in a vacuum. Rizzo has a whole lot of salary on the books already, and an uncomfortable amount of it is on two players who are not particularly likely to play/produce the whole year (Stras, Zimm). The Nats are expected to push hard for Melancon. They need to pay a CF or SS. There is no way it makes sense to pay Ramos $17 mil to play less than half a season at his new, uncertain, post-ACL full strength.<br /><br />They probably shouldn't even offer the QO to him in hopes of getting a draft pick, because he's a smart man and will take it.Josh Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00524273388243642450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-59742381210853917482016-10-24T11:44:17.637-07:002016-10-24T11:44:17.637-07:00@ Anon 11:42
Got it. Thanks.@ Anon 11:42<br /><br />Got it. Thanks.SMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-18845119913372483232016-10-24T11:42:32.287-07:002016-10-24T11:42:32.287-07:00@SM--"Little girl . . ."
The Longfellow...@SM--"Little girl . . ."<br /><br />The Longfellow children's rhyme.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-68229767528099550192016-10-24T11:34:55.341-07:002016-10-24T11:34:55.341-07:00"...if you are hoping for a miracle;" &q..."...if you are hoping for a miracle;" "...a gamble;" "...you better hope." <br /><br />I've never seen coded language so plainly written. Is there a contending major league team whose catching situation is more dire than that of the Nats?<br /><br />I have two questions:<br /><br />Is the catcher situation the most urgent roster issue the Nats need to fix?<br /><br />And what's "the little girl with the curl?"SMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-18860391175573167392016-10-24T10:56:21.850-07:002016-10-24T10:56:21.850-07:00I like the assumed plan well enough. Castillo is ...I like the assumed plan well enough. Castillo is a functional MLB catcher. Severino may be developing into a functional catcher that can step in. Lucroy is a free agent after this year and if we feel like throwing too much money at talent we could do that then and at least *get* talent. If he can be had for a reasonable cost like mentioned in the article, great. (Also, as long as we're talking to the Diamondbacks, it'd be a good time to see if Rizzo can get the crazy people there to let us have Goldschmidt, because hey, Diamondbacks.)DezoPenguinnoreply@blogger.com